"I went to Universal Studios and met some guy that was in a small, little office for a part that was in a movie that was kinda like this action movie,'' Spitz, 66, said. "The guy was Steven Spielberg and the movie was 'Jaws.'"

Spitz, who had been taking acting lessons, said he read and screen tested for the part that ultimately went to Richard Dreyfuss.

Richard Dreyfuss in "Jaws." Mark Spitz said he read for Dreyfuss' role in the 1975 blockbuster following his star-making performance at the 1972 Olympics.Everett Collection

"Everything was great, but it was so close to the Olympics they couldn't get over the idea that I was still going to be Mark Spitz, that the transcending of who I was as an athlete into the movies was too great,'' he said.